SEOUL, South Korea--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 6, 2026--
Humanoids Summit today announced its inaugural Seoul edition, continuing the global expansion of its event series dedicated exclusively to humanoid robotics and Physical AI. The conference will take place September 22–23, 2026, at COEX, one of Asia's premier convention destinations, located in the heart of Seoul.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260706332366/en/
The announcement follows the Summit’s successful expansion into Asia earlier this year with its Tokyo edition, which welcomed more than 2,000 attendees, nearly 300 companies, participants from over 30 countries, and featured live television coverage. Building on that momentum, Humanoids Summit continues its global expansion, connecting the humanoid robotics ecosystem across Silicon Valley, London, Tokyo, and now Seoul.
Since launching in Silicon Valley in 2024, Humanoids Summit has evolved into a global platform connecting the companies, researchers, investors, manufacturers, policymakers, and enterprise leaders advancing humanoid robotics and Physical AI. As the industry moves from research laboratories toward commercial deployment, the Summit provides a forum where technical innovation, manufacturing, investment, and policy converge to accelerate real-world adoption.
South Korea combines world-class manufacturing, robotics, semiconductors, automotive innovation, and artificial intelligence into one of the world's most advanced technology ecosystems. Home to globally recognized technology companies and supported by continued investment in robotics and AI, Seoul provides a natural meeting point for the international humanoid robotics community.
Over two days, Humanoids Summit Seoul will feature keynote presentations, executive fireside chats, technical sessions, startup showcases, investor discussions, live robot demonstrations, and executive networking. Consistent with previous editions, the program will focus on the technologies and business strategies driving commercialization, mass production, and capital allocation across the humanoid robotics ecosystem, spanning Physical AI, foundation models, world models, reasoning, dexterity, mobility, manipulation, perception, actuators, manufacturing, safety, and enterprise deployment.
“Humanoid robotics is entering a defining decade,” said Modar Alaoui, Founder and Chair of Humanoids Summit and General Partner at ALM Ventures. “As the industry transitions from research and development to commercialization and mass production, we’re entering the era of The Humanoid Economy. South Korea has established itself as one of the world’s leading robotics and advanced manufacturing economies, making Seoul a natural place to bring together the companies, investors, researchers, and policymakers shaping this next chapter.”
Building on the momentum of previous editions, Humanoids Summit Seoul is expected to welcome robotics companies, startups, suppliers, manufacturers, investors, enterprise technology leaders, researchers, academic institutions, government organizations, and international media from around the world, continuing the Summit’s role as a global meeting point for the humanoid robotics ecosystem.
Speaker applications, sponsorship opportunities, exhibitor reservations, and attendee registration are now open.
For more information, visit www.humanoidssummit.com and www.humanoidssummit.co.kr
About Humanoids Summit
Humanoids Summit is a global event series dedicated exclusively to humanoid robotics and Physical AI. Since launching in Silicon Valley in 2024, the Summit has expanded internationally with editions in Silicon Valley, London, Tokyo, and Seoul, bringing together the companies, researchers, investors, manufacturers, policymakers, and enterprise leaders advancing the future of intelligent humanoid systems.
Through technical presentations, live demonstrations, executive networking, and discussions focused on commercialization, manufacturing, safety, investment, and real-world deployment, Humanoids Summit serves as the global platform connecting the organizations building the next generation of intelligent machines and the future of the humanoid economy.
The Humanoids Summit, the global event series dedicated exclusively to humanoid robotics and Physical AI, makes its South Korean debut in Seoul from September 22-23, 2026 at COEX.
A weeklong preliminary hearing for the man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk is set to get underway on Monday. Prosecutors will aim to show that they have enough evidence against 23-year-old Tyler Robinson to proceed to a trial. The hearing marks the most significant presentation of evidence in the case so far. After the hearing concludes, state District Judge Tony Graf must determine if the case should proceed.
Robinson is charged with aggravated murder in the assassination of Kirk on the Utah Valley University campus last September. Kirk’s parents and his widow, Erika Kirk, will attend the hearing, according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. It is the first time Kirk’s family will be in the courtroom with the man accused of killing him.
Here's the latest:
Charlie Kirk’s family thanked supporters for their kindness and prayers ahead of Monday’s preliminary hearing.
“Every court proceeding serves as a painful reminder of his death,” Erika Kirk, his widow, said in a statement posted on X, “and the loss that has irrevocably impacted our lives and the lives of his children.”
She added that the public outpouring “has sustained us during the darkest days of our lives.”
The statement was posted on behalf of Kirk’s parents, Robert and Kathryn, his widow and his sister Mary.
“Out of respect for the judicial process, we will not be commenting further at this time,” the brief statement said.
Erika Kirk forgave defendant Tyler Robinson during her husband’s memorial service in September.
“My husband, Charlie, he wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life,” she said as she struggled to hold back tears.
“I forgive him because it was what Christ did. It is what Charlie would do,” she added.
Her declaration was an outlier among prominent conservatives, including President Donald Trump, who said in September on Fox News that he hopes Robinson gets the death penalty.
Erika Kirk took the helm of Turning Point USA, the conservative youth movement that her husband co-founded, shortly after her husband’s death.
She is expected in court throughout the week with her husband’s parents, Robert and Kathryn Kirk, according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
State District Judge Tony Graf said recently that prosecutors violated his restrictions on talking outside the courtroom when Deputy Utah County Attorney Christopher Ballard told a media outlet his office had ample evidence to convict Tyler Robinson of killing Charlie Kirk.
Robinson’s lawyers argued the comments were intended to influence potential jurors. As a punishment, they wanted the judge to block prosecutors from seeking the death penalty.
But Graf said that was too severe, and that Ballard's comments weren’t malicious.
The judge said any potential bias issues could be addressed by expanding the jury pool or more closely questioning potential jurors when the case goes to trial.
Starting with today’s hearing, the focus of the case shifts to whether there is enough evidence for a trial and whether the death penalty is warranted, said Paul Cassell, a University of Utah law professor and former federal judge.
Cassell said evidence made public to date in court filings suggests prosecutors have “an overwhelming case.”
“This seems like the proverbial slam dunk at this stage of the case, where the only issue is whether there is a sound basis for moving forward with a trial on the merits,” he said.
A death sentence is an option in Utah only when a crime has aggravating circumstances. Prosecutors will argue in Robinson’s case that Kirk’s shooting endangered others in attendance.
Authorities have said DNA consistent with Robinson’s was found on the trigger of the rifle used to kill Kirk, the fired cartridge casing, two unfired cartridges and a towel used to wrap the rifle.
Robinson’s parents had confronted him after authorities released a surveillance photo of the suspect and details about the rifle, authorities have said. His parents convinced him to meet with a family friend, a retired sheriff’s deputy who reportedly helped arrange for Robinson to turn himself in.
Prosecutors have said Robinson left a note for his roommate, who was also his romantic partner, that read: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.” They also said he wrote to his roommate in a text message about Kirk: “I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out.”
Defense attorneys unsuccessfully sought to block prosecutors from using recorded statements from Robinson’s roommate during the hearing. The defense wanted the roommate to testify in person so Robinson could exercise his right to challenge the credibility of witnesses against him. Graf said the time for challenging witnesses would come later.
The proceeding will resemble a mini-trial, with prosecutors planning to offer DNA evidence linking Robinson to the suspected murder weapon, testimony from investigators, autopsy findings, witness statements and video of Kirk’s killing. They are not required to present all their evidence and can use secondhand information or hearsay.
After the hearing concludes, state District Judge Tony Graf must determine if the case should proceed.
Prosecutors need only demonstrate that there are reasonable grounds to believe Robinson killed Kirk. The standard is lower than for a trial, where prosecutors have to prove guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Charlie Kirk’s widow and parents are expected this week in a Utah court where prosecutors seeking the death penalty will argue that the man charged with killing the conservative activist should stand trial for murder.
The five-day preliminary hearing that starts today will be the first time members of Kirk’s family are in the Utah courtroom with defendant Tyler Robinson. The hearing will be livestreamed.
Robinson turned himself in after the shooting. Prosecutors allege that he also sent a text message confession to his partner and left a note saying he had an opportunity to kill one of the nation’s leading conservative voices, “and I’m going to take it.”
He has not entered a plea in the case, however.
Robinson, 23, is charged with aggravated murder in the Sept. 10 assassination of Kirk, who was addressing a crowd of thousands at Utah Valley University. His attorneys have not commented on his guilt or innocence.
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FILE - A well-wisher places flowers at a makeshift memorial set up for Charlie Kirk at Turning Point USA headquarters, Sept. 11, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)
FILE - Charlie Kirk hands out hats before speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, Sept. 10, 2025. (Tess Crowley/The Deseret News via AP, File)
